Colditz (1972–1974): Season 2, Episode 10 - Very Important Person - full transcript

According to the radio,
we've crossed the Rhine at the Remagen.

That would mean that
the American First Army

is less than 100 kilometres away.

Huh?

I think we've crossed
the bridge at Remagen, sir.

Oh, good.

How you feeling, son?
- Okay, sir.

You've lost some weight.
Both of you have.

Well, they've cut the bread rationing
down to four ounces.

That's below subsistence level.

If they can't feed the prisoners
they have no business running a jail.



Make an official protest
to the Kommandant

as from Acting Senior American Officer.

That's you.
- Right, sir.

And, listen, you're not just SAO
for the few of us here.

You represent the whole goddamn US Army.

I wish this to be put on record.

I have received a telephone request

from the office of the Higher SS
and Police Leadership in Leipzig.

I intend to report this request
in writing

to the General Officer Commanding Army,
District Four, Dresden,

with a strong recommendation that it
be taken as far as Berlin, if necessary,

in order to gain support to refuse it.

And the nature of this request, sir?

That we prepare
the so-called important prisoners,



the Prominente,

for removal at 12 hours' notice.

I find it hardly surprising.
With respect, sir.

Do you not?

There can be only one interpretation
of this request.

These men are to be used as hostages.

In exchange for our own Prominente, sir.

In my view,
there will be no such exchange.

Prisoners in question
are to be used as...

as pawns...

To extract last minute concessions
from the Allies.

Sir, with respect,
I must point out that...

That is totally contrary
to the tradition of the German Army

and a violation of the Geneva Convention

regarding prisoners of war.

"Berne, Stockholm..."

It's censored.

Phil?

Can you read this? Good.

That part?
- Skip that. Here.

"I am planning a trip to Mexico."
- Yeah.

Mexico.
- It's nice planning.

It's lovely.

Just think of that now.

The freedom.

You know, it's funny.

Freedom's what we're supposed
to be fighting for,

but if you're really crazy
about someone,

it's the last thing
you want them to have.

Annie's not free.

Oh. Sure she is.

Not for what's important.

To be with you,
for both of you to be together.

What difference does it make
where she is?

Yeah.

Anyhow, by the time her summer
vacation starts, you'll be home.

I'm not sure.

The war is as good as over.

Yeah, but will they ever let us go?

Alive.

I get the feeling that
some of these guys,

they're really only keen on death.

When our Fortress was shot down,

we were taken to a Luftwaffe field
for interrogation.

He was an ex-fighter pilot.
Spoke good English.

He told me that every plane
in his squadron

had been shot down in the attack.

Then he grinned and said,

"We may not know how to live,
but we know wonderfully how to die."

I reckon some of these guys
are just so ready to die themselves,

they'd just as soon
take us with them as not.

This is the BBC Home Service.

Here is the news,
and this is Frank Phillips reading it

Bomber command made a heavy attack
on the Ruhr last night

and mines were laid in enemy quarters.

217 bombers...

Shh. Listen.
- Let's scram.

No.

Guns.

It bloody well is guns.

One at a time. Let's not all stampede.

Guns.
- What?

You can just hear them. American guns.

See anything?
- No.

Might if it was dark.
- How far is the horizon from up here?

To be strictly accurate,
based on a five foot man at sea level,

it's 2.9 miles.

From up here,
it should be 30 miles more.

Well, Phipps, it's your people.

Over the hills,
but by no means far away.

All right. Back to work.

Will we need this thing?

Sir, I have just received this dossier
from the Stadtspolizei in Leipzig.

Dossier. Long after the war's over,

they'll still be sending
their dossiers, I suppose.

Sir, this dossier concerns
the American, Phipps.

Mmm-hmm.

It takes note of the fact that
he is the son of an American ambassador

and suggests that he should no longer
be treated as an ordinary prisoner,

but should be confined
with the Prominente, sir.

I wish they'd stop interfering
with the administration of this camp.

Oh. And I have my reply

from the General Officer
Commanding Army, District Four.

And he supports the stand you've taken?
- Supports it?

He doubts he can do anything about it.

So much for the Commanding General.

I'm going to inform
the Senior British Officer.

That will give him the chance,
if he chooses,

to request a visit from
the Protecting Power of Switzerland.

With respect, sir.
- Mmm?

In certain quarters,
such a move might be regarded

as an attempt to sabotage an order, sir.

Of course.

What time do you wish
Colonel Preston to attend, sir?

15:00. And Colonel Dodd also.
- Sir.

You know I haven't really gone
since we don't have no breakfast.

We're being pushed back?

Ha! It'll be the first time
for Patton or Hodges if we were.

You know, this castle would
make a perfect place

for those artillery guys to zero in on,
you know that?

Why don't you go get a needle and thread
and make us a nice big stars and stripes

to hang on the outside wall?

Those guys will have this place
marked out

with big red zeros on the maps.

Come on, baby. Snake eyes.

I don't know.
- There you go.

I've seen bigger foul ups than that
in the Army.

Are you kidding?

I'm not kidding.

We bombed our own frontline in Normandy.

Killed our own
Commanding Infantry General.

Seven.
- Good point.

Hey, has anybody got
a needle and a thread?

There exists,
in the increasingly complex

and secret hierarchy of the Third Reich,

an organisation which is part SS,
part Gestapo and part ordinary police,

yet above all three.

From its district headquarters
in Leipzig,

I have received a request.

Not an order, you understand,
merely a request.

It is to the effect that
the Prominente prisoners

be made ready for transportation
at 12 hours' notice.

Transportation to where?

No physical destination specified.

Merely outward bound?

If I understand that expression, yes.

Will they be under
Wehrmacht jurisdiction?

There's a phrase
which has crept into the sub-language

at the Reich of this era.

It is one of a great number
of half whispered terms.

Nacht und Nebel.

Darkness and fog.

They will be under the jurisdiction
of darkness and fog.

What you say, Kommandant
is horrifying and extremely outspoken.

Well, our language used to be
a structure expressive of truth.

It has ceased to be so.
It is time it began to be so again.

And if I now seem to be
indulging myself with truth,

it is in the hope that
you will take advantage of it.

Is the motive behind this political?

Without a doubt.

So the time has come
for the hostages to be used?

That is my interpretation
and why I've summoned you here.

In that case, Kommandant,
I give you notice that

we shall resist the transfer
of our fellow prisoners

with all the resources at our disposal.

And I ask now formally
that we be granted a interview

with the representative
of the Protecting Power.

I note your request.
- Thank you, Kommandant.

Major Carrington,
there's one further point.

I have been asked by this same authority

to reclassify Lieutenant Phipps
as a Prominente.

He may expect to be
isolated to their quarters

without further notice.

I assume that's because
he's an American ambassador's son.

Yes.

Kommandant, don't you have the authority

over the prisoners
under your jurisdiction?

My authority is intact.

As you will find to your cost
if you begin to question it.

This is my girlfriend, Ann.
- Oh, yes?

Ann Dewitt.
- Charming.

You wanna see my house?
- Hmm.

Oh, that's lovely.

Just outside Philadelphia.
- Really heavenly.

Is that a swimming pool?
- Yeah. I got a better one here.

Here you can see the diving board.

Good swimmer, are you?
- Ah, not bad.

I did about 20 lengths every morning.

Just run down in your dressing gown?

Yeah, and I'd do a few chin ups.
- Chuck it off and leap in in the buff.

Have a shower, have breakfast.

I must say, I long to go to America.
- Oh, you really must.

Hey, Chris, don't forget, there's always
a bed for you at our place.

Cigarette?

Come in.

Simon, the SS are threatening to remove

the Prominente prisoners
away from Colditz.

That means out of
Wehrmacht jurisdiction.

Obviously the time has come for
the Nazi Party to use their hostages.

I want it made known, please.

And the Colonel has the impression that

the Kommandant wants
his position strengthened.

What?

Strengthened against
his own superior officers.

How close are the Americans now?
Has anybody heard?

By the sound of the guns they're
no closer than they were yesterday.

If as close.
- Yeah.

It's up to us in here, isn't it?

I suppose we could raise
a pretty good stink.

Let's get the Prominente in here.

But...
- How are we going to do that?

I mean, look.
They've got a special guard.

Still, we could get them
in here at a cost.

And then if Jerry'll tried
to force his way in

we could bloody well threaten
to burn the place down.

Exactly.
It's not going to help anyone very much.

I have no wish to appear callous,
but the fate of a handful of aristocrats

is of very little interest to me
at this time.

If anybody wants me I shall be...
- Upstairs.

We could threaten the German Commanders
with reprisals

if they go along with this move.

What we've got to organise
is a really strong show of force.

Right. I agree.
What form should it take?

Can you get together a plan?
I mean, along those lines?

Certainly.

Give me something positive
in a couple of hours.

Righty-ho.

Anyway, it may not have
to come to anything.

Jerry's a bit of a bluffer,
if you ask me.

Usually backs down
when there's a show of force.

Does he?
I must say I've never noticed it.

I think that's one
of the silliest pieces of poppycock

I've ever heard in all my life.

Regarding the Prominente prisoners

here in Colditz,
Herr Obersturmbannführer.

There are factors involved which
I insist be taken into consideration.

One is to do with the legality
of such a move.

Yes, yes. I most certainly do.

The others are on the level
of expediency.

The predictable reaction
of the British prisoners here

will render the administration
of this camp almost impossible.

The time for such measures is long past,
as I'm sure you'll agree.

Yes, I'm glad you feel that way.

Oh? Since when?

On the Führer's order?

No, I have not had the honour.

Thank you for that assurance,
Herr Obersturmbannführer.

Well, he sounded quite sympathetic.

Obergruppenführer Berger,
the Chief of Police Forces,

has just been made Head of all
Prisoners of War Administration.

He is to be in Leipzig tomorrow.

I've never met him. Have you, Major?

In Berlin. He's the Himmler's deputy.

Not an easy man.

It still boils down
to the two basic options.

Either you have a mass demonstration,
object of warning Jerry off,

or you go for the coup.

Either barricading them in where they
are now or we hide them somewhere.

We can't do both.

To pull off a coup
we'll need to surprise them

to some extent with weapons.

Yeah. Surprise, yes.

Excuse me, Kommandant.

Obergruppenführer Berger
has arrived unannounced.

He's on his way to see you.

Is Major Mohn with him?
- On his way to greet him, sir.

Hauptmann, you stay here.
- Yes, sir.

Apologies for arriving
unannounced, Oberst.

In any case, heartfelt greetings.

Thank you, Major.

Obergruppenführer,
this is Hauptmann Ulmann,

in charge of security.

Under air attack three times on the way.

After the third one,
Schankel here found it necessary

to retire hastily into the bushes,
eh, Schankel?

Yes, Herr Obergruppenführer.

This is my aide,
Hauptsturmführer Schankel.

Well, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

I've known men who run away
in the morning, afternoon,

go out and earn their Ritterkreuz, eh?

But about my Prominente, Oberst?

Yes, sir?

I want them ready for transportation
at 06:00 tomorrow morning.

I have received no orders to that effect
from OKW.

Without such an order,
no prisoner may be moved.

I just gave you the order.

We have always
abided by the Geneva Convention here.

Yeah, you may have. I damn well haven't.

Any sabotage by prisoners or staff

and my SS will move in here
and tear the place down.

I have the Führer's personal order
concerning the Prominente in my pocket.

It's a fine thing when a German officer

has to bow down to the dictates
of his own prisoners.

I'm acting entirely of my own instance.

I will not be able to answer
the consequences here.

You won't have to
because you'll be shot.

And I'll shoot three prisoners
for every hour's delay

after the 06:00 hours deadline.

That's the way these days.

Men and boys are dying
out there in the fields

to hold back the Russians.

We can't be soft
while that sort of thing's going on.

You're a good man, Oberst

You've done an excellent job in
unrewarding circumstances and all that.

But you are behind the times, you know.

Herr Obergruppenführer,

such remarks issued in the presence
of subordinate officers

leave me no choice
but to hand in my resignation.

That's the old army talking.

Well, there was a lot to be said
for the old army,

but God in heaven,
man, you can't resign.

It'll be like resigning
in the frontline.

I can't do it. You can't do it.
Not at a time like this.

Don't talk sabotage.

Führer sees through all that.

I tell you. I've had a few of his orders
I would've preferred to disobey.

You can't do it though.
He follows through.

Oberst, 06:00 or the SS will be in here.

They're battle weary.
Can't blame them for being a bit rough.

No excuses. I shoot three prisoners
for every hour's delay.

Two hours and you will be shot.

Four hours' delay and I'll shoot myself.

Now, give me one more schnapps
and I'll be on my way.

Don't you worry about
your Prominente, Oberst.

But don't fool around either.

The easy days are over.

Oberst, I must impress
upon you and your staff,

don't let there be bloodshed.

At a time like this it's madness
to waste unnecessary blood.

There'll be transport for them,
isn't that so, Schankel?

At 06:00 hours,
Herr Obergruppenführer, yes,

a vehicle will be coming.

Well, there you are. There will be
transportation for them at 06:00 hours

and they will be on it.

I didn't hear what you said, Kommandant.

They will be on it, will they not?

Yes, Herr Obergruppenführer, they will.

Right. When we get the signal,
the legs come off like this.

The pin stays in.

If there's time, we'll hammer in
a couple of nails for good luck.

Well, this corridor here.

If, on the other hand,
the second plan is used,

the same bars will be used to
cross the back of the doorway here.

This, of course, in effect,
creates only a few moments' delay.

Which gets us nowhere.

So how far do you want to go
when the chips are down?

I mean, surely,
the whole point is to avoid using force

by the threat of using force.

Whether we go any further than that
is up to the SBO.

It's out of my hands.

I'm afraid we have no choice
but to bow to force majeure.

The certain alternative is bloodshed.

What will it be for the Prominente who
will be SS hostages without protection?

That's what was on your conscience
yesterday, Kommandant.

What's changed it since?

Gentlemen,
there is such a thing as reality.

If you had in your service
an organisation like the SS...

The difference is, we don't.

That's why you might say we're at war.

We have done all we can.

If the SS are brought in here,
all chance for all of us collapses.

For the Prominente, for you and for us.

Your attitude is understandable,
but there is no choice.

Well, some of us think
we not only have a choice,

but a responsibility.

Then I beg you. Use your influence.

Mr Carrington, I must inform you
that Lieutenant Phipps is now officially

classified as a Prominente

and will leave on the same transport
with the others.

Major Mohn, I must inform you that if
anything happens to Lieutenant Phipps,

you better not be any place
where I can get my hands on you.

Because I'm holding you
personally responsible for his life.

And I take that
as a direct threat to my own,

in which case under Section 14 of the...

That has nothing to do with...
- Gentlemen, please!

Major, you will take this up with me
at a later time.

Sir!

Colonel Preston,
I beg you, go to your quarters

and try to calm unnecessary passions.

What you call unnecessary passions

brought us here in the first place,
Kommandant.

They're not going to be easily stilled.

What do you say, Richard?
Think we got it whacked?

More or less.

Everybody down.
The SBO's called an emergency meeting.

Well, I'm afraid he's going to have
to meet without me. I'm busy.

The Colonel wanted me to tell you
that if they take you out of here,

it'll be over his dead body.

Well, what the hell can he do about it?

Is there anything he can do, Phil?

I don't know.

All right?
- Sir.

All right, thank you, gentlemen.
You go through.

Attention.

Thank you.

Sit down, gentlemen, please.

As a result of a meeting

which Major Carrington and I
have recently had with the Kommandant

I think we face ourselves
with a very grim situation.

And I have to make
a very painful decision.

Before I tell you what it is,

I think I'd better let you know
what the Kommandant has just told me.

The first thing is going
to affect us all from now on.

And that is that a SS General

has been placed in command
of all prisoners in Germany.

That General has already been to Colditz
and he has ordered the Kommandant

to transfer the Prominente prisoners
away from here tomorrow morning.

Any signs of resistance
and the SS will enter the castle.

He has also told me,
and I have no reason to doubt him,

the first victims of any SS action

will be the Prominente
and then ourselves.

Any demonstration will be met
with instant and bloody reprisals.

Therefore, gentlemen,
painful as it may be,

we no longer face a dilemma
because there is nothing that we can do

which will affect what happens
to the Prominente,

except for the worst.

The Colonel's right.

Phil.

Most of you don't know that
Lieutenant Phipps

is an American ambassador's son.

Therefore, that makes him
one of the Prominente

and he'll be shipped out
with the rest of them

at 06.00 tomorrow morning.

Jim, I had no idea.

Nor me.
- What do you expect us to do, sir?

Just let them come in here
tomorrow morning

and cart Jim off
without raising a finger?

With respect, sir.

If we let Lieutenant Phipps
and the Prominente go

without doing anything,
is there not the possibility

that the Germans might just
turn around and start on us?

You will not...
No one will take any action

against the Germans whatsoever.

I want that clearly understood,
all right?

Yes, sir.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Honestly, I don't want any risk
taken on my account.

That tower. We'll need that
for an observation post.

I'm sorry.
This is a prisoner of war camp

and can be used
for no other military purposes.

Very well, I shall report your refusal.

I sometimes think you Wehrmacht officers
will do anything to lose the war.

I'll convey that message
to the Kommandant.

Do that.

Obergruppenführer Berger had dinner
in our mess last night, by the way.

Told us you were having some trouble
with your prisoners.

We are having no trouble
with the prisoners.

Very well, we shall see.

But if any of our men have
to break in here, Herr Hauptmann,

I personally advise you,
stand well clear of the gate.

Major Carrington.

What are you carrying?

Good evening, Hauptmann Ulmann.
- Good evening.

What are you carrying?

This is some of
Lieutenant Phipps' baggage.

He's hurt his foot and he's supposed
to report to the Prominente.

The Prominente?

Lieutenant Phipps has not been ordered
to report anywhere.

Not until after Appell...
tomorrow morning.

Yes, I know that,

but he didn't want to leave things
until the last minute.

He's a nervous traveller.

One of the guards could take it in.

I would really rather take it in myself.

After it's been inspected, naturally.
- And then?

Hauptmann Ulmann,
something terrible is going to happen

if I don't have a chance to talk
to someone in that Prominente block.

I have some news
that might interest you.

What is it?

I know where they're going.

Where?
- Oflag 4A.

At least the Kommandant there
is a Wehrmacht officer.

That is good news.

There's only one thing wrong with it.
- What's wrong?

How can we be sure?

I've got an idea.

What if you went with the Prominente?
- I can't go with them.

But what if you did go with them?

You could get a receipt signed by the
Wehrmacht Kommandant

countersigned by one of the Prominente.

At least that would give some measure
of relief to the British.

And to us.

We could use it.
- I can't go.

Even if it meant avoiding a bloodbath
up here?

I'm sure the Kommandant would be
at least interested in hearing the idea.

I suppose I could ask him.

You know, Hauptmann Ulmann,

we've grown to trust you.

You know that.

I hate to go against the Colonel,
but it may have to come to that.

It's rough on him, this, you know.

It's rough on everybody,
not just the Colonel.

Nevertheless.

I think what gets some of the chaps down

is they didn't hear the sound
of those guns any more.

It could be just the wind direction.

There is no wind.

When we did hear the guns,
the wind was easterly,

which is the prevailing wind here,
damn it.

I've been studying it for weeks.

"The principal failing
occurred in the sailing,”

"And the Bellman,
perplexed and distressed,"

"Said he had hoped, at least,
when the wind blew due east,"

"That the ship would not travel
due west!"

I worked it out to talk to Ulmann.

He came up with some interesting news.

He knows where they're going
to send the Prominente.

Where?
- Oflag 4A.

He says it's under Wehrmacht control.

Whose word do we have for that?
Ulmann's.

Well, I suggested to him to be
on that transport tomorrow.

Get a receipt signed
by the officer responsible,

countersigned by one of the Prominente
and bring it back here to us.

And you think the SS are going
to let him do that?

They might. It's a hope.

Yes, it's a hope.

Did you manage to talk
to any of the Prominente?

Yeah, I talked to one of them.

What did he say?
- They're very grateful for our concern.

What else?

Well, he said, "There's so few of us
and so many of you."

And that, "It's not the beginning
of the war

"when men and ideals have to be proven.

"They've been proven
and the war's over."

He said, "It's the Spring of 1945

"and all that matters is that all of you
see summer.

"So wish us well, watch us go and,

"God willing,
we'll all meet again in England."

What a position to be in.

If only the First American Army
would get a move on,

it would solve all this.

I haven't heard any gunfire today.
Have you?

No.

All quiet on the western front.

I remember that quiet, all right.

It was on the night of November the 10th
to 11th, 1918.

I was in the trenches.
I was a subaltern,

19 years of age,

and I'd lost nearly all my friends.

Everyone in the trenches that night
on both sides knew that the war

was going to end the next morning
at 11.00.

When dawn did come,

there was a sort of autumn silence

that went right the way through Belgium,
through France, right up to Switzerland.

And out of that stillness
came long unheard sounds.

There was a creak of a cartwheel,

the clank of a milk pail.

And a French farmer sawing wood.

Sounds that hadn't been heard near
the frontline for nearly four years.

There wasn't a shell

or a machine gun.

There wasn't even a rifle shot.

Just a French farmer sawing wood.

And I thought that there would
never be war again.

That was what it was like in 1918.

Yet some did die, even the next day.

Just moments before it officially
became ended.

Wasn't that true?

Yes, that was true.

And this war is not over yet.

There are dozens of places like that
in this castle.

Old, disused staircases bricked over.

Forgotten air shafts, even rooms.

And what about that maniac in his attic?

Your absence won't be noticed
till after Appell...

Probably not until the Prominente
are packed and ready to leave.

They're not going to keep them hanging
around all day, waiting for you.

And if they tear the place apart?

Not if they think it's an escape

and we've got to try and improvise
something to make it look like one.

It will mean a hell of a risk
for you guys.

No more so than during the dozens of
genuine escapes that have taken place.

Yes, I agree, if all the Prominente
disappeared overnight

there'd be a bit of a schmozzle.

But not just one. The one who wasn't in
the Prominente plot to start off with.

Will it be cleared by the SBO?

Better still, by your SAO, Colonel Dodd.

Keep it all American.

Damn it, you're only going into hiding
for a few days, that's all.

What are you lot up to?

We're going to show Jim
a little cubbyhole

where he can hide out for a few days
until the Yanks get here.

You are, are you?
- It'll look like an escape.

An American affair, as I see it.

Well,
I'm not so sure about that.

Will we have to clear it with the SBO?

If Colonel Preston gets
to hear about it,

I don't think he's going to like it.

Phil?

A couple of the chaps are thinking
of hiding Phipps for a few days.

We're going to hide Phipps.

Well, that's up to you fellows
if you want to chance it.

The Germans can't cause that much
of a stink.

I mean if you can really make it look
like an escape.

How do you feel about it?

Could be all right for me, but maybe
not so hot for the rest of you guys.

He'll just be taking a little
private evasive action, that's all.

You can't blame a fellow for that.

I'll check this out with Colonel Dodd.

Tell Colonel Preston what's going on.
I'll keep my eye on them.

I know there's a risk.
Maybe it's a good idea.

It's going to be rough on a lot
of people, Colonel.

Especially the British.

Yeah. But look at it this way.
If it wasn't for the British,

with their right accents
and their class distinctions,

there wouldn't be any VIP group
and young Phipps would be in the clear.

And we wouldn't have to make
these goddamn decisions.

Phipps is an American. He's got nothing
to do with all this stuff.

That's not fair, Colonel.

Phipps is an American ambassador's son.

We've got privileged families
in our country, too.

He comes from one of them.

It is a good idea. Hide him.

Colonel Dodd's gone along with it.

Well, I suppose I had to know this.

You can answer that better
than I can, Colonel.

Yes, of course I do.

I'm sure they'd cancel it
if you didn't go along with it.

Which puts the ultimate responsibility
back on me.

I didn't mean for it to come out
that way.

I was aiming to give you the choice
without the responsibility.

There's no choice for me in Colditz.

I understand as far as Phipps
is concerned,

you're in a worse position than I am.

All right, let them try it.

Before we go down to Appell...,
we melt you into very thin air.

Yeah, but when they ask the questions,
it was me who found the hiding place

and nobody knew of the plan
except myself, yeah?

If it would make you sleep any better,
fair enough.

You're on. With the Colonel's blessings.

Which you may find
won't help you a great deal.

Sorry, Padre.

And Colonel Preston?

He went along with it.

Colonel Dodd would have said if he
thought it was a mistake, wouldn't he?

Yes, of course he would.

Look, sleep on it.

If you feel any different,
let us know in the morning.

Not again!

Oh, For God's sake!

I'm so bloody hungry.

Right, thank you, Mawson. Carry on.
- Sir.

Parade dismissed.

Halt!

Do not dismiss.

Lieutenant Phipps, stand forward please.

Lieutenant Phipps, stand forward please.

Take 10 men
and search the British quarters.

Report to me here within five minutes
whether you find him or not.

I demand to know at once,
where's Lieutenant Phipps?

I have no idea.

This was found hanging
over the outside wall, Herr Major.

Lieutenant Phipps is hiding.
I repeat, where is he?

As Senior American Officer,

I request that all enquiries about
Lieutenant Phipps be directed to me.

Very well.

He will present himself on this spot
no later than 05:40.

I have no way of implementing
that order, Major.

I regret that, Herr Carrington.

Parade, attention!

Well, gentlemen,

unless Lieutenant Phipps is found
within the next 20 minutes

or surrenders himself,

the work of yesterday
will have been in vain.

Destroyed.

I fear there may even be loss of life.

All present?
- Not yet.

If Lieutenant Phipps is not found
during the search now proceeding,

which I'm quite sure he will not be,

I beg you, go to your quarters
and find him yourselves.

I guarantee you will not be under
surveillance while you do this.

Excuse me, sir, I wonder if I might
have a word with you, please?

Certainly.

Colonel Preston, Major Carrington,
if you please.

Major.

If Lieutenant Phipps is not found

the SS will carry out
a search of the castle

in their own particular fashion.

In addition,

for every hour's delay
beyond the scheduled time

of their departure

they will take three hostages.

If Lieutenant Phipps is not found
by noon,

hostages will be shot.

Well, that would appear to be that.

We back down or stand and get shot.

Unless, of course, they're bluffing.

Do you think they're bluffing, Colonel?

I don't think so either.

As Senior American Officer
you're very much in the firing line,

so whatever decision is made
has to be mine.

We give Phipps up.

You're not taking that decision alone.
I'm taking it with you.

I want everybody to know it.

Do you know where Phipps is hiding?
- No, but I'll find out.

I'm going to talk to Colonel Dodd.

Permission to talk to Colonel Dodd.

Follow me.

What's the dope, sir?
- Where's Phipps?

So, it's a sell out, is it, sir?

It is not certain that
Phipps will be harmed.

But it is certain that
other people will be shot.

Major Carrington has gone
to talk to Colonel Dodd.

When he comes back
I want you to take him to Phipps.

Is that an order, sir?

What do you think it sounds like?

I don't believe it.
They're too demoralised.

It'll be their necks
when the First Army gets here

and they know it.
- They're not bluffing.

You think I'm going to hand over
young Phipps to the SS?

I swore over my dead body.
- Colonel!

They're going to take hostages.
The Kommandant says

they're going to shoot
three prisoners every hour.

We haven't got any time.

A lot of lives rest on minutes.

Goddamn!

All right. Go find young Phipps
wherever he is

and order him to come out of hiding.
And that's an order for you, too.

Where the hell's my goddamn pants?

You know, I'm going to regret this
as long as I live.

No, you won't.
- Yes, I will.

Take this to 55 Brigadier Führer
Schreck at his headquarters.

Contact Obergruppenführer...

Okay, pull.

Jim, we got Phil Carrington here
to talk to you.

Hi, Phil.
- How you doing?

I'm okay.

Jim, I want you to come up out of there
and give yourself up.

Why, what's happened?

They're taking hostages.
They're gonna shoot them.

But I already am a hostage.

You don't understand.

The Kommandant says they're
gonna take three hostages every hour.

They must be bluffing, Jim.
Stay down there.

You're gonna have to do everything
you can to kill me

if you don't start taking orders.

It's an order from Colonel Dodd, right?

No, it isn't. It's an order from me.

You bastard.

You can take that order back, Major.

I can't do that.
- You can, you know.

Okay, Lieutenant,
consider that order rescinded.

It's bad when friends
force a friend to give an order.

I'm sorry, Phil.

What's the matter with you lads?
Run out of oxygen

halfway to the top.

Gun flashes?
- I saw them.

Distinctly, and they couldn't have been
more than 30 miles away.

I did see them, you know.
I could see the flashes on the horizon.

About 30 miles away.
- Yeah.

Colonel?

Good to see you up, sir.

Son...

I'm sorry.

Hello.

Hey.

Hey!

Take care.

This prisoner is Lieutenant Phipps.

Your list is now complete.

Gentlemen of the Prominente group.
Please get into the vehicle.

Be seeing you soon.
- Yeah.

Goodbye.

Let's drive out, men.

Major Carrington.

Major Carrington.

You are under arrest.
You will be tried by court martial.

On what charges?

Insubordination.

Threatening the life
of a German officer.

The mandatory sentence
upon conviction is death.

That's a little steep, isn't it, Major?

No doubt you are prepared
to qualify what you said

and we will forget the whole thing.

Maybe.
- What did you say?

There could be another
court martial, Major.

Take him away.